Russia's gas pipeline to Greece and Italy may pass through Turkey or Bulgaria — minister

Supplies via Romania are not considered because this country does not border on Greece

ATHENS, May 27. /TASS/. The natural gas pipeline across the Black Sea to Greece and Italy may pass through Turkey or Bulgaria, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

"Obviously, considering arrangements and signed memorandum on construction and supplies via the subsea portion of Poseidon pipeline, various gas delivery routes may be considered, including options either through Turkey or Bulgaria," Novak said.

Supplies via Romania are not considered because this country does not border on Greece, he added.

The route to be selected depends on infrastructure development solutions to be developed and agreed by parties participating in the project implementation and interested in receiving Russian gas, the minister said.

TAP project will not interfere with Russian gas pipeline

According to the minister, implementation of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project for gas transportation from the Caspian Region and the Middle East will not interfere with the Russian project of gas delivery to Greece and Italy.

"I may say this is a fairly small volume for Europe. As far as TAP is concerned, these volumes are not above 10 bln cubic meters of gas for the time being and in the longer run by 2019. Certainly, the European consumer needs greater gas volumes and diversification of routes," Novak said.